Somali Govt Charges Woman Who Says She Was Raped

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A human rights group says the Somali government has charged a woman who has said she was raped by security forces. The group said a journalist who interviewed her was also charged.

Human Rights Watch said three other people, including the woman's husband, were charged with assisting the alleged rape victim to evade investigators. The rights group said in statement Wednesday that Somali government should drop the politically motivated charges.

Rights groups say there is an increase in media attention given to the high prevalence of rape and other sexual violence in Somalia, including attacks allegedly committed by security forces.

Rape is rampant in Mogadishu, where tens of thousands of people who fled a famine in 2011 in the south live in poorly protected camps. Government troops are often blamed.